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Woolworths responded by saying it might not fly the flags at shops as a result of it was “not practicable”. The corporate doesn’t personal a lot of its shops and rents house as a substitute from procuring centres and different landlords.
The retailer has a reconciliation coverage that claims it’ll fly the Indigenous flags, however this refers to assist workplaces slightly than shops. Woolworths’ headquarters in north-western Sydney already flies the Australian, Aboriginal, and Torres Strait Islander flags, however the firm says its reconciliation coverage is so as to add Indigenous flags the place the Australian flag is already flown.
“The three flags will probably be flown collectively at these choose websites, simply as they’re in numerous different places from major faculties to companies and different establishments,” a spokeswoman stated.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has attacked the boycott and claimed Dutton was threatening 200,000 jobs as a result of Woolworths must sack workers if customers acted on the Coalition marketing campaign.
Coles shares Australia Day merchandise, whereas Kmart and Aldi don’t.
The controversy started when Information Corp Australia newspapers reported robust criticism of Woolworths in a front-page story on January 11 that stated, “Woolies goes woke”.
The Australian flag, the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag flying in Canberra.Credit score: Alex Ellinghausen
Dutton referred to as for the boycott when he appeared on 2GB on January 11, however has not repeated his feedback, amid criticism from the Enterprise Council of Australia and others that firms shouldn’t be boycotted for making business choices.
The dispute is being seen by Labor as a take a look at of Dutton’s political talent as a result of he selected to escalate a dispute about Australia Day merchandise at a time when grocery store costs look like a higher concern for many voters.
Albanese has accused Dutton of beginning a “tradition warfare” that meant nothing to most Australians.
“Folks want a authorities that’s targeted on them, that’s targeted on jobs, targeted on price of dwelling, targeted on the costs of issues on grocery store cabinets, not what kind of thongs are on grocery store cabinets,” he stated in Adelaide on Wednesday.
Liberal senator James Paterson backed the boycott on Wednesday, nevertheless, and stated Woolworths was worthwhile and never liable to going out of enterprise.
“I believe Australians who’re involved about this could, as they do in each different area of their life, ship their cash, ship their {dollars} to firms that assist their values,” he stated.